Tip:To make efficient use of your swimming pool chemicals, managing good water balance is the main factor
Before adding swimming pool chemicals it is important that you read and familiarise yourself with the workings of your spa / pool and support equipment. Good water circulation and filtration are essential to achieving a safe and clear bathing environment.
Water balance is the first thing to establish when treating your pool or spa. This helps make sure the later stps like sanitation are effective and use the minimum chemicals required There are three major factors affecting water balance, they are pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness
Calcium hardness
Hardness is the measurement of calcium salts in the swimming pool or spa water and this will vary depending where you live. Low calcium hardness can cause damage to your pool materials. High calcium hardness levels (hard water) often leads to the formation of scale in pipe work and equipment.
Calcium Hardness Guide Measures
• Ideal calcium hardness levels are between 100 – 200 ppm (mg/l).
• If the measurement is below 75 ppm (mg/l), use Hardness Plus
• When the measurement exceeds 200 ppm (mg/l), apply Scale Inhibitor.
pH
pH can range from 1 to 14 where 1 is very acid and 14 very alkaline Make sure you keep your water within the 7.2-7.6 range which, being slightly alkaline, will protect equipment from corrosion and produce the ideal conditions for the people enjoying the pool or spa and also gives the best chemical efficiency.
• Ideal pH level for spas is between 7.2 – 7.6.
• If the measurement is below apply pH Plus
• When the measurement exceeds 7.6 apply pH Minus
Note
pH can be difficult to manage in spas because the system water turns over fast, is very agitated and is at greater temperature than swimming pools. [All these factors
pH rises can be caused by this which causes chlorine products such as chlorine granules to lose effectiveness. Significantly greater doses of chlorine sanitiser are then needed You can avoid this by using Bromine which is more stable over a larger range of pH than Chlorine Bromine also remains in the spa for longer than chlorine so it reduces the quantity of spa chemicals you use.
Total Alkalinity
pH Changes are buffered by total alkalinity The water pH varies drastically when Total Alkalinity levels are very low
If Total alkalinity is too high then water clarity can be affected but it also makes it difficult to make changes to water pH levels
• Ideal Total Alkalinity is 100 ppm (mg/l) When it is below 80mg/l remedy it with Alkalinity Plus
• When Total Alkalinity is greater than 140mg/l use pH Minus to reduce it
The balance of the water needs to be monitored regularly because it is essential to the effectiveness of your other treatments
Testing your water is easy, you just use test strips which are available online
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